Scale-beam pivot



Patented May ll, lg.

atar vries.

Janus 1v1. HINCHEY, or RUTLAND, VERMONT.

SCALE-BEAM PIVOT.

Application led April 26, 1922. Serial No. 556,638.

This invention relates to scales, and has to do with the pivots employed upon the scale beam.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel pivot construction which may be provided at materially less expensethan the pivots ordinarily employed, and which will, at the same time, be securely held in position, thus insuring accuracy of the scale.

A further object of the invention is to aHord a new and improved method for securing in position scale beam pivots, the method being of a character which will insure a perfect lit for the pivot bar with a substantial saving in the time and labor employed in practicing the methods heretofore known and used.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following` detailed description there is minutely described one practical embodiment o f the method and of the pivot constructionconstituting` the invention, although it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made in both the method and in the pivot construction without departing from the invention, the scope of which is defined by the prior art and more definitely set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevational view of a scale beam showing the pivots in position,

Fig. 2 is a cross section showing the pivot in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the pivot bar supporting plug in section,and

Figs. 1l, 5, 6 and 7 are, respectively, illustrations disclosing the successive steps of the method for securing the pivots in the beam.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates a beam of a well known type having therein a plurality of knife edge pivots 11 located, as shown in the drawings, in customary relation upon the beam. The beam, which, ordinarily, is of brass or relatively hard metal, has, initially, formed therein for the insertion of a pivot an opening 12 (Fig. 4), ordinarily round, although other shapes of holes may ibe struck out. This hole is preferably produced by drilling and reamingso as to afford a very accurate and finished opening in the beam. The next step in the method consists in forming a substantially V-shaped notch 13 at one point along the edge of the opening, which may be accomplished by broaching out the opening, as shown in Fig. 5. A

*plug 14: having a keyway 15 therein, and

which is substantially the same shape and size of the opening so as toaccurately lit the latter, is then positioned in the opening with its keyway opposite and registering with the notch 18. The keyway may be of the saine depth throughout the plug, as shown in F 2 or may vary in depth longitudinally of the plug, as shown in F ig. 3, and the plug is preferably formed of metal which is relatively soft as compared to the metal of the beam itself. i'he plug should accurately and tightly tit the opening, and prior to its insertion should be carefully machined for this purpose. After the insertion of the plug within the opening a pivot bar 16 having a knifed edge 1( is inserted in the keyway with its knifed edge iitting into the notch 13. lt is desirable that the knifed edge of the pivot bar tightly tit the broached portion constituting the notch, but should this fit not be as accurate as the fit of the plug in the opening the pivot will, nevertheless, be held firmly in position. It will be understood, of' course, that should the keyway in the plug be of uniform depth throughout the plug a pivot bar, such as is shown in Fig. 2, is employed, the bar in this figure being of the same width or depth from end to end. However, when a plug such as is shown in Fig. 3 is used, the tapering pivot bar shown in this iigure is employed and there is thus produced a wedging action which results in the wedging of both the plug and the pivot bar in the opening. The pivot bar is of relatively hard metal as compared to the plug, and when placed in position in the manner above described and shown in the drawings it constitutes a rigid, accurate and substantially immovable support for the hails or the like having bearings thereon.

lt will be understood that the steps of the method above described may be carried out in relatively different order and that such modifications may be made in the method and illustrated pivot construction as come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a beam having a substantially round bore therethrough, said bore having its edge cut away' to form a notch, a substantially round plug fitting snugly in said bore and having lll) :i heyw-.iy opposite said notch, and a pivot bar seated in said keyivay, said bar projecting into the opening` and into Said notch.

2. A scale benin having," an opening therein provided with :i notched edge portion, a plug closely iitting Suid opening, said plug heaving` a keyivny therein, and a pivot bar in said keyivay having o. knife edge fitting into said notch, said keywey varying' in depth longitudinally of the plug sind said pivot bar being longitndinfillyY tapered whereby both the plug and bnr are wedged in said opening.

3. ln :i device of the class described. e benin having' an opening therein, the major portion of which is substantially round, n round plug snugly fitting in said opening` und having' a keywuy therein serving to rcceive a pivot bar, end a pivot bnr in said keyvray extendinginto the opening and being wedged therein, the edge ot Suid opening having u Substantially V-sheped cut away portion :1nd said pivotbar iittiire, into said portion.

at. In a device of the class described, n benin having u substantially round bore therethrough, said bore having; its edge cut may to torni a notch, a substantially round plug httinfrI snugly in seid bore and having a hej/'way opposite Suid notch, a pivot bar Seated in said keywziy, Suid bar projecting into the opening' and into smid notch. und ineens 'for ivedging said pivot bnr in said groove.

in testimony whereofY I have hereunto set my hund.

JAMES M. HICHE Y. 

